Let’s face it; Twilight is the Hollywood equivalent of Salman Khan: makes truckloads of money, scoffs at basic intellect, acting etc. and you can’t wait for the shirt to come off.

The final instalment of the Twilight saga goes in line with the rest of the movies and finally puts an end to Bella’s seemingly difficult struggle between her vampire boyfriend-husband and werewolf friend. Or something like that.

For those who’ve come late, here’s a quick recap of what happened in the four previous films. An ordinary teenager Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) falls in love with (she later finds out) a vampire, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). But there’s a hot werewolf, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), who loves her as well and is always by her side. Much to Jacob’s protests, Bella decides to marry Edward, but the Volturi (a coven of powerful vampires) insist that Bella must be turned to a vampire soon. In the last movie, Bella was pregnant with her child and on hanging on to her dear life at childbirth. In order to save her, Edward turns her to a vampire.

Finally a vampire, Bella is now sharper and even looks sexier with her smouldering eyes. She quenches her newfound thirst for blood, tests her super-speed, heightened senses and other vampire powers. When Bella sees her baby, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy), the infant, who’s just a few days old, already has teeth. Bella and Edward’s baby is a curious mix of vampire and human who grows at an unnatural rate. If that isn’t enough to confuddle the newly-turned vampire, Jacob confesses that he has “imprinted” her (Jacob is Renesmee’s soul mate).

While Bella is getting used to her child’s speedy growth, another vampire mistakes Renesmee to be an “immortal child” and brings in the ruthless Volturi to rid the child.

Will Bella and Edward save their child? How will they do it? Does Jacob’s love survive? Will this franchise finally end? Yes.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Movie Stills

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Review: Script Analysis

Among many other mediocre books and movies that have managed to grab people’s eyeballs, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series is part of the herd. Melissa Rosenberg does the uninspiring job of writing the screenplay for the movie. The dry humour helps. There’s no doubt that the franchise has millions of fans all over the globe screaming for Edward-Bella-Jacob, but the only romance you get from the entire movie is Edward and Bella mouthing “I love you” over and over again like high schoolers (Edward is more than a century old; literally).

Every couple in the movie seem to be glued by superglue. Whether it is dinner time or preparing for battle, you won’t find any of the lovers in the movie more than a centimetre away from each other. The Volturi are another annoyance. They seem to be powerful enough to demand people’s loyalty in seconds but somehow it takes them a couple of months to confront team Bella with a handful of their people.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Review: Star Performances

No surprises here. Kristen Stewart has as much expression as the sets around her, though she does look hotter than she did in the previous Twilight movies. Robert Pattinson is alright as Edward. Taylor Lautner is slightly better as Jacob and easy on the eyes as well. Billy Burke is the only one making an honest effort as Bella’s father, Charlie. Mackenzie Foy is good as Renesmee. Michael Sheen does well as the vicious Volturi out to get Renesmee.

Most of the cast look pasty (vampires=no beating heart=no circulation) but their performances are good.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Review:  Direction, Music & Technical Aspects

Bill Condon’s direction is mediocre. Twilight isn’t Harry Potter; the last film didn’t require two parts to encapsulate the drama or the action (but it does mean that the cash register will ring a million more times). Carter Burwell’s music is good; he uses some really neat soundtracks in the film. Guillermo Navarro’s cinematography is ordinary. Virginia Katz’s editing is passable.

The action in the climax makes an interesting watch. The filmmakers used a CGI baby with teeth which looks tremendously creepy. Only Jacob’s shape-shifting has special effects worth mentioning. The number of close-ups that you see of the couple reinforces a headache more than the romance or undying love they’re trying to profess.

If you hoped to catch some of the steamy, bed-breaking scenes between Edward and Bella, the Censor Board’s scissors will leave you as pasty as Edward.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Review:  The Last Word

Only die-hard fans of the Twilight saga need to watch The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, and that too just for closure. If haven’t watched any earlier, no need to start now.

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